Some reflections on the new Mayor's Visions for Armidale ...
Our association aims:
To assist in the careful planning, design and development of beautiful, healthy and safe public spaces featuring wetlands, lagoons and billabongs, connected by flowing water along the Armidale Creeklands
We were pleased to read of the visions for Armidale proposed by the new Mayor, Sam Coupland in his Mayoral Minute (ARC Council meeting January 27, 2022).
In short, he has suggested we grow and broaden the economic base of our region and city through growing our population, with a focus on ‘sustainable’ industries supported by renewable energy. We appreciate the mention of using resources more wisely and protecting our environment and prime agricultural land. He sees water security and economic resilience as two key challenges.
We are pleased to see these positive ideas put forward and hope that all elected members of Council and key Council staff will consider, refine and distil not only their own thoughts but also those from the broader community so that we develop the best collective visions for our region and city.
Our association is pleased to see the recent release of the summary of results of the “Shape Your Region” survey, initiated late last year by the General Manager, which has harnessed the views of many across our communities. Among the most important findings, we are pleased to note that the community ranks water provision and sustainability, cleaner creeklands and community consultation as priorities.
As these visions are collated and considered by Council, it is worth noting that this is not the first time the community has been asked for its views. Our association hopes that we will not waste the considerable effort that some put into submissions made to the Armidale Regional Plan 2040 initiated by the previous CEO in 2019.
Therefore, we suggest that all submissions to that 2040 plan be made available on Council’s website so we can all see what our community thought about such a wide array of issues. To not make these submissions available is to waste the efforts of the community and encourage scepticism about contributing the community’s ideas to any planning processes conducted by Council.
So, whilst we await Council to act on this suggestion, may we present readers with a little of our detailed (15 page) submission to the consultants who undertook the Armidale Region Plan 2040. [At the time (December 3, 2019), we copied it to the then CEO and all Councillors].
We remind readers that the 2040 plan called for submissions under a very broad set of headings, many of which need to be considered in addition to the two key challenges posed by Mayor Sam Coupland. The topics we commented on included Growth, Housing, Education, Sport, Recreation and Open Space, Health, Transport and Connectivity, Tourism, Agriculture, Arts, Culture and Social, Sustainability, Biodiversity and Smart City! To conclude our submission - made during that most horrible of droughts (late in 2019) - we proposed a WEL vision (“Water Equals Life”).
Extract from the submission to the Armidale Region Plan 2040:
Our association’s aim is: “To assist in the careful planning, design and development of beautiful, healthy and safe public spaces featuring wetlands, lagoons and billabongs, connected by flowing water along the Armidale Creeklands”.
We support the development of user-friendly infrastructure such as attractive bridges, paths and cycle ways, play and recreation areas, along with performance and creative spaces which will complement water features and improve the quality of life, economy and beauty of Armidale.
More water features will encourage tourism, grow the economy and provide educational and research opportunities. An enhanced creeklands environment will see more environmental flows of water supporting healthy life along the entire centre axis of the city - supporting water birds, frogs, eels, fish, invertebrates, etc. Billabongs, lagoons, ponds and wetlands will greatly enhance the recreational opportunities and enjoyment of all residents as well as visitors to the region.
Visions for Armidale Creeklands Inc aims to collaborate with the wider community by seeking the visions of the aboriginal community, sporting associations, recreational users, the business community, educational institutions, residents and visitors of all ages and those wanting environmental protection, stream health, wildlife corridors, native vegetation and deciduous colour.
A full version of the submission can be found by visiting our blog (March 11, 2020) on our website.
We look forward to seeing even more opportunities for discussion of visions across the community and by Armidale Regional Council as we seek an agreed path forward.